(NAPSI)-Don't expect rocking chairs when the Rock 'n' Roll generation retires. The people who came of age in the '60s continue to reinvent culture as they approach their own sixties.
These Baby Boomers will redefine retirement. "Following the sun" may be the conventional image of the sunset years but 89 percent of Americans aged 55 and older say they want to remain in their homes when they retire, according to the AARP (American Association of Retired Persons).
What's more, the Bureau of Labor Statistics says older Americans will work in record-setting numbers over the next decade.
"More than ever, Americans seek to build on family and community ties in their later years by staying close to relatives and by keeping active in the business world," says home furnishings expert Susan Dountas of Sauder. "They're rethinking their living spaces to create their own retirement havens right at home."
She suggests several ways to redesign the home front.
Transform formal rooms into relaxed retirement retreats with kid-friendly spaces. Start with a welcoming light color scheme and add traditional elements such as cottage or country furnishings, for a sense of warmth and connectedness. For example, Sauder's Harbor View collection is reminiscent of a vacation home, with antiqued white finish, panel doors and louvers. For those who favor dark finishes, the company's Colony collection boasts the laid-back look of louver doors in a teak finish.
Choose low maintenance, skid-free flooring, easy-care fabric covers and washable furniture finishes. A storage cubby adds organizing ease and provides space for young guests to stow outdoor gear and sports equipment.
"Adding a ground floor bedroom can enhance safety and convenience," notes Dountas.
Retirees can incorporate many favorite elements into home decor. An oversized window can fill the room with light and make the most of a view. The generous storage of Sauder's Mission bedroom designs can make life easier. Repositioning outlets and switches or adding shower and bath "grips" can bring greater comfort and security.
A guestroom can encourage visits from family and friends. Choose furnishings that accommodate children and adults. For example, the Harbor View bedroom suite can be customized for any age with a quick change of accessories. Put out favorite stuffed animals and games for the grandchildren. Tuck away the toys for a grown-up guestroom. Incorporate all-purpose guestroom amenities, such as reading lights, books and frequently forgotten toiletries.
Create a home office/home entertainment center. "Mature adults can maintain their professional lives in the same space where they enjoy time with friends and grandchildren," Dountas says. Sauder's Cottage Home computer desk with hutch provides a keyboard shelf with wrist rest, ample drawer space and storage compartments including a vertical CD rack.
"Adding furniture for large-scale TVs and other recreation-minded components creates a well-rounded, multi-purpose room," Dountas notes. The Cottage Home entertainment center is attuned to technological requirements yet offers rustic good looks.
"As retiring becomes an active verb, Boomers are reshaping the home front along with conventional wisdom about later life," Dountas concludes.
Today's "retirees" outfit their homes for upbeat, active lives revolving around family, friends, work and fun.